System and method for enhanced online transactions using shopping games

ABSTRACT

An enhanced system and method for carrying out online transactions and auctions using a “shopping games” mechanism module is disclosed. The shopping games system provides for a mechanism scheme allowing “game moves” as well as bidding and message exchanging moves. The participants of the system may engage in game play in conjunction with an auction process, wherein the game play affects the auction process to provide a entertaining and amusing environment for participants to carry out online transactions without limiting the participants to traditional auction “moves”.

PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 09/643,890, filed Aug. 18, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF TH INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention pertains generally to online transactions. Moreparticularly, the invention is an enhanced system and method forcarrying out online transactions using a “shopping games” mechanismmodule.

[0004] 2. The Prior Art

[0005] The use of the global information network known as the Internetas medium for carrying out sales transactions (i.e., onlinetransactions) is known. The popularity of the Internet with home andbusiness computer users has provided a market opportunity to providetransaction mechanisms for such Internet users. Retailers, for example,have launched “online catalogs” via Web pages as an alternative (oradditional) means for selling their products or services to theircustomers.

[0006] Recently, online auctions have also gained popularity withInternet users. For example, web sites such as Ebay® and Ubid® provideconventional auction mechanisms, which allow sellers and buyers toengage in auction transactions. Current auctions are defined by a set ofparticipants (sellers and buyers), a set of legal moves (namely, biddingmoves and message exchanging moves) for the participants, one or morerounds of moves, each round followed by revelation of information (e.g.,current highest bid, current bidders, highest bidder), and a stoppingrule, which terminates any further bidding moves and clears the auction.

[0007] As noted above, the only legal moves provided by current auctionschemes to participants include bidding moves (bids) and messageexchanging moves. A bid submitted by a bidder for an item commits thebidder to pay some monetary amount if a given outcome occurs, theoutcome resulting when the bidder is the highest bidder with a bidamount satisfying the seller's reserve (minimum) bid amount. Other thanbids, the only other legal move provided to participants in currentauction schemes are message exchanging moves (i.e., “cheap talk”), whichare payoff-irrelevant exchanges of messages among participants. Forexample, a bidder may send an email to the seller inquiring into thedescription (requesting a picture, for example) of the item for sale bythe seller.

[0008] In general, bids affect the information revelation and therelevant outcome. On the other hand, message exchanges only affectinformation revelation. Limiting the auction scheme to such legal moves,however, provides the participants with relatively few options andprovides an uninteresting transaction scheme.

[0009] Conventional games on the Internet comprise many diverse types,including non-competitive, competitive and cooperative games, amongothers. Such games include various legal moves related to game play, butsince online games are not associated with online auctions, “bids” arenot within the scope of legal moves for games.

[0010] Accordingly, there is a need for an enhanced system and methodfor carrying out online transactions and auctions using a “shoppinggames” mechanism module which provides for a mechanism scheme allowing“game moves” as well as bidding and message exchanging moves. Thepresent invention satisfies these needs, as well as others, andgenerally overcomes the deficiencies found in the background art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is a system and method for carrying outenhanced online transactions using shopping games. The onlinetransaction system comprises an interface module operatively coupled forcommunication with a mechanism module. In general, the operations of theinterface module together with the mechanism module provide an online“shopping game” transaction system wherein participants of the systemmay engage in game play in conjunction with an auction process toprovide an entertaining and amusing environment for participants tocarry out online transactions without limiting the participants totraditional auction “moves.” The “shopping game” of the presentinvention may further be carried out with other online transactionsincluding, for example, fixed-price sales as well as bartertransactions.

[0012] The interface module provides an interface between participantsof the online transaction systems. In particular, the interface modulemanages communication requests from the participants (sellers andbidders) of the system as described more fully below. The interfacemodule further manages transactions associated with moves made by theparticipants of the system, such as when a seller lists an item forsale, or when a bidder places a bid on an item or plays a game relevantto an item for auction.

[0013] The mechanism module defines a set of “moves” which may becarried out by the participants of the system. In particular, themechanism module allows bidders to issue bid moves, messaging moves andgame moves relevant to an item for auction. As described more fullybelow, game moves or game outcomes may affect one or more relevantauction elements or events including, for example, the sale of the item,the selection of the participants, the bidding process, the informationrevelation, and the auction clearing process. Likewise, auction eventsmay affect other auction or game elements including, for example, thepool of game participants, the set of possible game moves, the structureof information revelation, and the game outcome.

[0014] The invention further relates to machine readable media on whichare stored embodiments of the present invention. It is contemplated thatany media suitable for retrieving instructions is within the scope ofthe present invention. By way of example, such media may take the formof magnetic, optical, or semiconductor media. The invention also relatesto data structures that contain embodiments of the present invention,and to the transmission of data structures containing embodiments of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention will be more fully understood by referenceto the following drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only.

[0016]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram depicting an illustrativeshopping game system in accordance with the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting the causal relationshipbetween game elements and auction elements in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a logical flow diagram depicting the acts associatedwith a first illustrative shopping game transaction sequence inaccordance with the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a logical flow diagram depicting the acts associatedwith a second illustrative shopping game transaction sequence inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] People of ordinary skill in the art will realize that thefollowing description of the present invention is illustrative only andnot in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readilysuggest themselves to such skilled people having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

[0021] Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrativepurposes the present invention is embodied in the apparatus shown inFIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and the method outlined in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. It willbe appreciated that the apparatus may vary as to configuration and as todetails of the parts, and that the method may vary as to details and theorder of the steps, without departing from the basic concepts asdisclosed herein. The invention is disclosed generally in terms ofshopping game transactional system, although numerous other uses for theinvention will suggest themselves to people of ordinary skill in theart.

[0022] Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a functional blockdiagram depicting an illustrative shopping game system (SGS) 10 inaccordance with the present invention. The SGS 10 operates within anetwork server 12 which can be any standard data processing means orcomputer, including a minicomputer, a microcomputer, a UNIX® machine, amainframe machine, a personal computer (PC) such as INTEL® basedprocessing computer or clone thereof, an APPLE® computer or clonethereof or, a SUN® workstation, or other appropriate computer.

[0023] Server 12 generally includes conventional computer components(not shown), such as a motherboard, a central processing unit (CPU),random access memory (RAM), display adapter, other storage media such asdiskette drive, CD-ROM, flash-ROM, tape drive, PCMCIA cards and/or otherremovable media, a monitor, keyboard, mouse and/or other user interfacemeans, a modem, network interface card (NIC), and/or other conventionalinput/output devices. The server 12 has loaded in its RAM a conventionalserver operating system (not shown) such as UNIX®, WINDOWS® NT, NOVELL®,SOLARIS®, LINUX or other server operating system. Server 12 also hasloaded in its RAM web server software (not shown) such as APACHE®,NETSCAPE®, INTERNET INFORMATION SERVER™ (IIS), or other appropriate webserver software loaded for handling HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol)or Web page requests.

[0024] In accordance with the invention, SGS 10 further comprises aninterface module 14 operatively coupled for communication with amechanism module 16, which are discussed in more detail below. SGS 10 isnormally embodied in software executed by the server 12 and carrying outthe operations described further below.

[0025] Server 12 is operatively coupled for communication to at leastone client node (N) 20 a, although typically Server 12 will be coupledto a plurality of nodes (20 a through 20 n), each operatively coupledfor communication with the SGS 10, as shown in FIG. 1. Each client node20 a through 20 n, like server 12, preferably comprises a standardcomputer such as a minicomputer, a microcomputer, a UNIX® machine,mainframe machine, personal computer (PC) such as INTEL®, APPLE®, orSUN® based processing computer or clone thereof, or other appropriatecomputer. Each client node 20 a through 20 n also includes typicalcomputer components (not shown), such as a motherboard, centralprocessing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), hard disk drive,display adapter, other storage media such as diskette drive, CD-ROM,flash-ROM, tape drive, PCMCIA cards and/or other removable media, amonitor, keyboard, mouse and/or other user interface means, a modem,network interface card (NIC), and/or other conventional input/outputdevices. Each client node 20 a through 20 n also has loaded in its RAMan operating system (not shown) such as UNIX®, WINDOWS® 98 or the like.Each client node 20 a through 20 n further has loaded in RAM a WebBrowser program (not shown) such as NETSCAPE®, INTERNET EXPLORER®, AOL®,or like browsing software for client computers.

[0026] Each client node 20 a through 20 n is normally embodied in aconventional desktop or “tower” machine, but can alternatively beembodied in a portable or “laptop” computer, a handheld personal digitalassistant (PDA), a cellular phone capable of browsing Web pages, a dumbterminal capable of browsing Web pages, an internet terminal capable ofbrowsing Web pages such as WEBTV®, or other Web browsing devices.

[0027] Each client node 20 a through 20 n is networked for communicationwith server 12. Typically, a client node is operatively coupled tocommunicate with server 12 via the Internet through a phone connectionusing a modem and telephone line (not shown), in a standard fashion. Aclient node may alternatively be coupled to server 12 via a network(e.g., LAN, WAN, etc.) connection. It will be apparent to those skilledin the art having the benefit of this disclosure that alternative meansfor networking clients 20 a through 20 n and server 12 may also beutilized, such as a direct point to point connection using modems,satellite connection, direct port to port connection utilizing infrared,serial, parallel, USB, FireWire/IEEE-1394, and other means known in theart. Generally, client nodes 20 a through 20 n and server 12 communicateusing the TCP/IP (transfer control protocol/internet protocol). However,other protocols for communication may also be utilized, including PPTP,NetBEUI over TCP/IP, and other appropriate network protocols.

[0028] While depicted as a single computer for purposes of disclosing anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, server 12 may comprise aplurality of servers (i.e., a server farm) to provide robust services tothe client nodes 20 a through 20 n, as is known in the art.

[0029] As described above, the SGS 10 comprises an interface module 14operatively coupled for communication with a mechanism module 16. TheSGS 10 further comprises a data storage facility wherein data associatedwith operation of the SGS 10 is maintained. In the example system ofFIG. 1, the data storage facility comprises a sellers database (DB) 22,a buyers DB 24, an items DB 26, and a transactions DB 28, eachoperatively coupled to the interface module 14. It will be appreciatedthat the structure of the data storage facility in FIG. 1 (DB 22 through28) is only exemplary, and other database or storage facilityarrangements may be used with the invention.

[0030] The interface module 14 comprises a request handler 30 coupledfor communication with a transaction handler 32. The request handler 30is operatively coupled for communication with the client nodes 20 athrough 20 n, normally via a network connection, such as an Internetconnection. The request handler 30 carries out the operation of managingcommunications between the client nodes 20 a through 20 n and the SGS10. For example, the SGS 10 may be configured as a “web” or “http”application, in which case the request handler 30 manages http requestsfrom users of the client nodes 20 a through 20 n. Accordingly, therequest handler 30 provides an interface (e.g., command line userinterface, graphical user interface, or voice activated user interface)for shopping game participants (sellers and bidders) to engage inshopping games via request submitted from the client nodes 20 a through20 n to the SGS 10. A request issued by a participant is communicated tothe transaction handler for further processing. The results (outcome) ofthe transaction are communicated as a reply to the user via requesthandler 14.

[0031] The transaction handler 32 processes requests from participantsof the SGS 10, which are communicated to the transaction handler 32 viathe request handler 30. For example, when a seller lists an item forsale with the SGS 10, the transaction handler 32 manages the bids,messages, or game moves which are carried out by the participants aspart of the shopping game process. The transaction handler 32 alsomanages such auction events as the selection of bidders, the beginningand ending of rounds of moves, the information revelation, and theclearing of the of auctions, for example.

[0032] The transaction handler 32 is coupled with the databases 32through 28 for storage and retrieval of shopping game related data. DB22 maintains a database of sellers, while DB 24 maintains a database ofbuyers or bidders. DB 26 maintains a database of items which are listedor have been listed for sale. DB 28 maintains a database of transactions(bids, messages, games, etc.) associated with items, which aremaintained in DB 26. The structure of DB 22 through 28 may comprise anysuitable format for data storage and retrieval such as a relationaltable, for example.

[0033] The interface module 14 is operatively coupled for communicationto mechanism module 16. The mechanism module 16 defines the legal moveswhich may be carried out by the participants as part of the shoppinggame (i.e., when items are listed for sale). The mechanism module 16defines bid moves 34, messaging moves 36, and game moves 38 as allowablemoves during the shopping game transaction. The game moves 38 allowed bythe mechanism module 40 are generally part of an online game (generallydesignated GAMES 40), here depicted as part of the SGS 10. Such gamesmay include, for example, trivia games, puzzle games, competitive games,cooperative games, or other appropriate game.

[0034] When a request (e.g., a bid) is submitted by a participant to theSGS 10, the transaction handler 32 determines whether the request isproper according to the mechanism module 16. Unlike prior art auctionmodels, the shopping game of the present invention allows game moves 38(and the results of games) to affect one or more auction elements, suchas the selection of bidders, the bidding process, the informationrevealed, and the auction terms, for example. Likewise, auction eventsmay be used to affect game elements. This relationship between gameevents and auction elements is described more fully below in conjunctionwith FIG. 2.

[0035] According to the present invention, a shopping game transactioncomprises a start phase, which is initiated when an item is listed forsale by a seller, a participant selection phase where potential biddersare selected to participate in the shopping game, a “game” phase, whereparticipants may issue one or more moves (e.g., submit bids, exchangemessages, play games) and where external events (uncontrolled by theparticipants) may take place, and a clearing phase which is triggeredwhen an end of auction event occurs. During the clearing phase, a gamemay further be implemented which effects the auction clearing terms. Theshopping game is completed at the conclusion of the clearing phase.Illustrative shopping game transactions are described more fully belowin conjunction with FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 2, as well as FIG. 1, there is shown ablock diagram depicting the causal relationship between game elementsand auction elements in accordance with the present invention. Arcs 42through 48 depict how game moves (and outcomes) affect auction elements.Arcs 50 through 56 depict how auction events affect game elements.

[0037] As noted above, the SGS 10 allows for game “moves” (participantactions) in addition to bid and messaging moves during the shopping gametransaction. It is noted that one or more games may be implementedduring one or more of the phases of the shopping game transaction. Ingeneral, at least one game is provided during the shopping gametransaction. However, one or more of the arcs 42 through 56 may beimplemented for a given “shopping game” system, such as SGS 10.

[0038] Arc 42 depicts the case where a game is used to select theauction participants (e.g., bidders) for an item for sale. For example,the two remaining players at the end of a game tournament may beentitled to participate in a second-price, sealed-bid auction for afeatured item.

[0039] Arc 44 depicts the case where a game is implemented during thebidding process. For example, a trivia game may be implemented when aparticipant places a bid for an item in a first-price, ascending-bidauction, wherein the participant's bid is augmented by a givenpercentage (at no extra cost for the participant) if the participantanswers a trivia question correctly.

[0040] Arc 46 depicts the case where a game affects the informationrevealed to a participant. For example, in a first-price, sealed-bidauction a participant who has not yet submitted a bid may be informedabout the highest bid already submitted (and hence gain a strategicadvantage over the other participants) if the participant successfullypredicts the stock market index price within some given margin of error.

[0041] Arc 48 depicts the case where a game is implemented during theauction clearing phase. For example, a trivia game may be implementedwith the successful bidder for an item, wherein the successful bidderreceives a rebate on the sale price for the item if the participantanswers a trivia question correctly.

[0042] Arcs 50 through 56 describe how auction events affect gameelements. That is, not only do game events affect action elements suchas participants, bidding, information revelation, and auction clearing,but auction events may also affect game elements, such as gameparticipants, game moves, information revelation, and game outcome. Arc50 depicts the case where an auction event selects the participants of agame. For example, all the auction participants who did not win theauctioned item may participate in a game which entitles the winner toreceive a free rebate for the purchase of a similar item at a retailerstore. In another example, only the highest bidders in a round of amulti-round auction (e.g. only bidders whose bids have been among thehighest 50%) will be eligible to play a game that will take place fromthe end of the round to the end of the next round.

[0043] Arc 52 depicts the case where an auction event affects the gamemoves. For example, the participants in two parallel auctions forsimilar items may answer trivia questions in a community trivia gameevery time they submit a new bid. When the auctions are over, the joint(team) performance of the participants determines which of the two teamsis the winner of the game, and the members of the winning team areentitled to a rebate on the auctioned item. In another example, based ontheir bids in a round of a multi-round auction different participantswill be eligible to perform different moves in a game to take placeuntil the end of the next round. For instance, if a participant A hasmade a higher bid than participant B, then participant A will beeligible to answer more trivia questions (that may lead to an advantagefor participant A, such as a rebate) or to enter more stages of a newcomputer game than participant B.

[0044] Arc 54 depicts the case where an auction event affects theinformation revelation during the game. For example, in a jigsaw puzzlegame the participants may observe a certain number of puzzle piecesbefore guessing the theme of the puzzle. The number of pieces that agiven participant is allowed to observe may depend, in turn, on thetotal value of the items purchased in previous auctions by theparticipant. In another example, only the highest bidders in an auction(e.g. only bidders whose bids have been among the highest 50%) will begiven some statistics about the bids made by the other participantsbefore participating in a prediction game where they need to guess theaverage bid of other participants.

[0045] Arc 56 depicts the case where an auction event affects the gameoutcome. For example, the value of the game prizes may depend on thetotal revenue obtained by the seller in a given set of auctions. Inanother example, the highest bidders in a round in a multi-round auction(e.g. only bidders whose bids have been among the highest 50%) will beeligible to a larger prize if they win in an accompanied game (e.g. onegets double or some other multiple of the prize if they turn out to bewinners in a trivia competition).

[0046] The method and operation of invention will be more fullyunderstood with reference to the logical flow diagrams of FIG. 3 andFIG. 4, as well as FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a logical flow diagramdepicting the acts associated with a first illustrative shopping gametransaction sequence in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 4 isa logical flow diagram depicting the acts associated with a secondillustrative shopping game transaction sequence in accordance with thepresent invention. The order of actions as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4and described below is only exemplary, and should not be consideredlimiting.

[0047] As described above, the SGS 10 provides one or more games duringthe shopping game transaction process. The illustrative shopping gametransaction model carried out by the process of FIG. 3 provides gameelements during the participant selection phase, the game phase, andauction clearing phase.

[0048] At process 100, the shopping game transaction begins. Thisprocess normally begins with box 110.

[0049] At box 110, an auction item is listed for sale by a seller. Thisprocess is normally carried out by a request by a seller via one of theclient nodes 20 a through 20 n. The request is received by the requesthandler 30 and is carried out by the transaction handler 32. Thetransaction handler 32 records the item in the Items DB 26. In additionto specifying the item's (or the bundle's, if more than one type of itemis offered for sale) description, the seller may also specify a reserveprice, an ending date and time for the auction, the quantity of items ofeach type for sale, among others. The shopping game transaction thenproceeds with either box 120 if a game is played to select the bidder orbox 130 if the item is open for all bidders. Whether a game is played toselect bidders (box 120) may be specified by the seller, or mayalternatively be selected by the SGS 10 if so configured.

[0050] At box 120, a game is played to select the pool of biddersallowed to bid on the item for sale listed during box 110. Any suitablegame for selecting a subset of bidders may be used. Typically the subsetwill be selected from the pool of participants in the Buyers DB 24. Forexample, the candidates may be invited to choose a song from a list. Thesong which is chosen by the highest number of candidates is declared themost popular. The candidates who chose the most popular song are thenallowed to bid in the auction. Box 130 is then carried out.

[0051] At box 130, the bidding participants have been established,either by selecting a subset of bidders according to the game results ofbox 120, or by providing an open auction, where all bidders mayparticipate. Box 130 also begins the “game play” phase, where one ormore rounds of moves takes place. The shopping game transaction thenproceeds at junction 140.

[0052] At junction 140, the shopping game participants may carry out ashopping game move. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the participants may issuea message (box 150), issue a bid (160), play a game (170), or make nomove (180). Although indicated herein as possible options which may becarried out by the participants, the available moves (boxes 150 through180) may also be required to be performed by the participants duringthis “game play” phase.

[0053] At box 150, the participant has issued a message. Here, theprospective (or actual) bidder may send a message (e.g., chat, e-mail)to the seller to inquire about the item for sale. For example, thebidder may ask about the quality or condition of the goods listed forsale. The seller may then reply to the bidder's message, if the sellerselects to do so. This message transaction is allowed according to themechanism module 16 as a legal move (messaging moves 36). Thistransaction may be carried by the transaction handler 32 (viaconventional messaging modules (not shown)) and recorded in theTransaction DB 28. Box 190 is then carried out.

[0054] At box 160, the participant has placed a bid on the item forsale. The bidder typically identifies the item and specifies a bidprice. This bid transaction is allowed according to the mechanism module16 as a legal move (bid moves 34). The transaction is carried out by thetransaction handler 32 and is recorded in the Transaction DB 28. Box 190is then carried out.

[0055] At box 170, the participant has chosen to play a game. Game movesare allowed because the mechanism module 16 allows for game moves 38.The game played by the participant is provided by the games module 40.The game may be communicated to the user via the request handler 30 forplaying on the client node (e.g., a java or javascript game), or may beplayed on the SGS 10, wherein game play commands from the user arereceived by the request handler 30 and game play user interface(graphical, sound, prompts, etc.) are communicated to the user by therequest handler (e.g., an html game). Other arrangements for playinggames may also be used, such as telephones, email, etc. The game playresults are used to affect one or more auction elements, such as whatinformation is revealed to the participant, whether the auction isended, or whether the participant receives a rebate, among others. Thegame transaction is carried out by the transaction handler 32 and isrecorded in the Transaction DB 28. It is appreciated that whiledescribed herein as a complete game, box 170 may also be implemented asa single “game move” carried out as part of a larger game. Box 190 isthen carried out.

[0056] At box 180, the participant has elected not to make a move. Forexample, the participant may not be interested in purchasing the itemfor sale. Box 190 is then carried out.

[0057] At box 190, an external event may take place which affects anauction element. For example, the end of auction event may be dictatedby the triggering of some external event, such as when the date and timereaches a predetermined value. However, other external events may beused to affect other auction elements. For example, the auction may endwhen the price of some given stock reaches a certain treshold, or whenthe temperature in San Francisco falls below 60 degrees, etc. Theshopping game transaction then proceeds at junction 200.

[0058] At junction 200, the transaction game processing may return to140 or may continue to diamond 210. Processing returns to 140, where ashopping game move is directly followed by another shopping game move.For example, where a bid is followed by a game, processing flows frombox 160 and box 190, then to box 170 and box 190. Other shopping gamemoves carried out in “serial” may also be provided according to the SGS10.

[0059] At diamond 210, the transaction handler 32 determines whetherinformation is revealed to the participants of the shopping game. Thisdetermination may be made according to one or more factors, includingwhether an external event has taken place, whether a bid has placed(thereby increasing the current highest bid), or as a result of a gameoutcome, among others. If information is to be revealed to theparticipant, box 220 is carried out. Otherwise diamond 230 is thencarried out.

[0060] At box 220, the information determined to be revealed to theparticipant is communicated by the request handler 30. Diamond 230 isthen carried out.

[0061] At diamond 230, the transaction handler 32 determines whether anend of auction event has occurred. As described above, an end of eventmay be triggered by a move (e.g., game result) or an external event(e.g., date and time). If the end of auction event has occurred box 240is then carried out. Otherwise processing of the round of moves (“gameplay” phase) continues at junction 140.

[0062] At box 240, the game play phase has concluded due to an end ofauction event. The shopping game transaction now continues to theauction clearing phase. According to the invention, a game may furtherbe played during this phase to affect the auction clearing events, inwhich case box 250 is then carried out. If a game is not to be playedduring this phase box 260 is then carried out, bypassing box 250.

[0063] At box 250, a game is played to determine the clearing outcome.For example, a trivia game may be played by the winning bidder, whereina rebate to the sale price is provided if the winning bidder answers atrivia question correctly. The trivia game example is only illustrativeand other games may also be used to determine the clearing outcome. Asdescribed above for other games, the game transaction is carried out bythe transaction handler 32 and is recorded in the Transaction DB 28. Box260 is then carried out.

[0064] At box 260, the auction is cleared by the transaction handler 32.Clearing involves determining the sale terms (price, delivery options,etc.) and communicating the sale terms to the seller and winning bidder,if any, by parsing the data from the Transaction DB 28. The item forsale is then flagged as closed in the items DB 26. The shopping game isthus concluded as indicated by process 270.

[0065] The illustrative shopping game transaction model carried out bythe process of FIG. 4 provides a game element following the biddingprocess during the “game play” phase of the transaction. FIG. 4 shownonly an illustrative model of a shopping game according to theinvention, and should not be considered limiting.

[0066] At box 300, the shopping game transaction begins. This processbegins with box 310.

[0067] At box 310, an auction item is listed for sale by a seller. Thisprocess is normally carried out by a request by a seller via one of theclient nodes 20 a through 20 n. The request is received by the requesthandler 30 and is carried out by the transaction handler 32. Thetransaction handler 32 records the item in the Items DB 26. As describedabove, the seller may also specify a reserve price, an ending date andtime for the auction, some uncertain external event which affects someelement of the auction, among others. Box 320 is then carried out.

[0068] At box 320, the bidding participants have been established. Inthe present example, the shopping game includes an open auction, whereall bidders may participate. Box 320 also begins the “game play” phase,where one or more rounds of moves takes place. The shopping gametransaction then proceeds at junction 330.

[0069] At junction 330, the shopping game participants may carry out ashopping game move. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the participants may issuea message (box 340), issue a bid (350), or make no move (360).

[0070] At box 340, the participant has issued a message. Here, theprospective (or actual) bidder may send a message (e.g., chat, e-mail)to the seller to inquire about the item for sale. The seller may thenreply to the bidder's message, if the seller elects to do so. Thismessage transaction is allowed according to the mechanism module 16 as alegal move (messaging moves 36). This transaction may be carried by thetransaction handler 32 (via conventional messaging modules (not shown))and recorded in the Transaction DB 28. Box 420 is then carried out.

[0071] At box 350, the participant has placed a bid on the item forsale. The bidder typically identifies the item and specifies a bidprice. This bid transaction is allowed according to the mechanism module16 as a legal move (bid moves 34). The transaction is carried out by thetransaction handler 32 and is recorded in the Transaction DB 28. Game370, which is then carried out. As indicated above, the present exampledepicts a shopping game where a bid move is followed by a game (game370). Game 370, which is described further below, may be any onlinegame, but in the present example comprise the trivia game depicted byprocess elements 380 through 420. At the conclusion of the game,processing continues at box 420.

[0072] At box 360, the participant has elected not to make a move. Forexample, the participant may not be interested in purchasing the itemfor sale. Box 420 is then carried out.

[0073] Referring again to game 370, an its associated elements (380through 420), an example trivia game is disclosed, although any suitableonline game may be also be used. At box 380, the bidder (of box 350) ispresented with a trivia question, via a communication from the requesthandler 30. This communication may be in the form of a conventional webpage or include additional programming instructions (java orjavascript). The bidder then responds with a reply indicating thebidder's answer to the trivia question. Diamond 390 is then carried out.

[0074] At diamond 390, the request handler 30 receives the bidder'sreply answer and communicates the reply to the transaction handler 32for further processing. The transaction handler 32 determines whetherthe bidder answered correctly in which case box 400 is then carried out.If the bidder answered incorrectly, box 410 is then carried out.

[0075] At box 400 the bidder has answered the trivia question correctlyand is given a rebate to the final sale price (should the bidder win theauction). This game transaction including the rebate is recorded by thetransaction handler 32 to the Transaction DB 28. Box 420 is then carriedout.

[0076] At box 410 the bidder has answered the trivia questionincorrectly and is not given a rebate to the final sale price. This gametransaction is recorded by the transaction handler 32 to the TransactionDB 28. Box 420 is then carried out.

[0077] At box 420, an external event may take place which affects anauction element. For example, the end of auction event may be dictatedby the triggering of some external event, such as when the date and timereaches a predetermined value. other external events may be used toaffect other auction elements. The shopping game transaction thenproceeds at junction 430.

[0078] At junction 430, the transaction game processing may return to330 or may continue to diamond 440. Processing returns to 330, where ashopping game move is directly followed by another shopping game move,as noted above.

[0079] At diamond 440, the transaction handler 32 determines whetherinformation is revealed to the participants of the shopping game. Thisdetermination may be made according to one or more factors, includingwhether an external event has taken place or as a result of a gameoutcome, among others. If information is to be revealed to theparticipant, box 450 is carried out. Otherwise diamond 460 is thencarried out.

[0080] At box 450, the information determined to be revealed to theparticipant is communicated by the request handler 30. Diamond 460 isthen carried out.

[0081] At diamond 460, the transaction handler 32 determines whether anend of auction event has occurred. As described above, an end of eventmay be triggered by a move (e.g., game result) or an external event(e.g., date and time). If the end of auction event has occurred box 470is then carried out. Otherwise processing of the round of moves (“gameplay” phase) continues at junction 330.

[0082] At box 470, the game play phase has concluded due to an end ofauction event. The shopping game transaction now continues to theauction clearing phase and box 480 is then carried out.

[0083] At box 480, the auction is cleared by the transaction handler 32.Clearing involves determining the sale terms (price, delivery options,etc.) and communicating the sale terms to the seller and winning bidder,if any, by parsing through the Transaction DB 28. The item for sale isthen flagged as closed in the items DB 26. The shopping game is thusconcluded as indicated by process 490.

[0084] Accordingly, it will be seen that this invention provides asystem and method for carrying out enhanced online transactions usingshopping games wherein participants of the system may engage in gameplay in conjunction with an auction process to provide a entertainingand amusing environment for participants to carry out onlinetransactions without limiting the participants to traditional auction“moves”. Although the description above contains many specificities,these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention butas merely providing an illustration of the presently preferredembodiment of the invention. Thus the scope of this invention should bedetermined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a computer device, an online shopping gamesystem having at least one seller and at least one bidder, saidtransaction system comprising: a) an interface module configured toprovide a user interface between the seller and the bidder, saidinterface module further configured to manage transactions associatedwith moves made by the seller and the bidder in conjunction with a saleof item by the seller; and b) a mechanism module operatively coupled forcommunication with said interface module, said mechanism module defininga set of legal moves which may be issued as a transaction by the sellerand the bidder, said set of legal moves including game moves, said movescarried in conjunction with the sale of the item by the seller, saidgame moves affecting an element of the sale of the item.
 2. The shoppinggame system of claim 1, wherein said sale element is a pool ofprospective bidders who are allowed to bid on the item of sale.
 3. Theshopping game system of claim 1, wherein said sale element isinformation which is revealed to the bidder.
 4. The shopping game systemof claim 1, wherein said sale element is the terms of the sale.
 5. Theshopping game system of claim 1, wherein said game moves culminate in agame result, said game result affecting an element of the sale of theitem.
 6. The shopping game system of claim 5, wherein said sale elementis a pool of prospective bidders who are allowed to bid on the item ofsale.
 7. The shopping game system of claim 5, wherein said sale elementis information which is revealed to the bidder.
 8. The shopping gamesystem of claim 5, wherein said sale element is the terms of the sale.9. The shopping game system of claim 1, wherein sale elements and eventsaffect an element of a game.
 10. The shopping game system of claim 9,wherein said element of a game is the pool of game participants.
 11. Theshopping game system of claim 10, wherein said sale elements and saidevents affect the pool of game participants by having all the auctionparticipants who did not win the auctioned item participate in a gamewhich entitles the winner to receive a free rebate for the purchase of asimilar item at a retailer store.
 12. The shopping game system of claim9, wherein said element of a game is the set of possible game moves. 13.The shopping game system of claim 12, wherein said sale elements andsaid events affect the set of possible game moves when participant A hasmade a higher bid than participant B, then participant A will beeligible to answer more trivia questions
 14. The shopping game system ofclaim 9, wherein said element of a game is the structure of informationrevelation in the game.
 15. The shopping game system of claim 14,wherein said sale elements and said events affect the structure ofinformation revelation in the game by having only the highest bidders inan auction given statistics about bids made by other participants beforeparticipating in a prediction game where said highest bidders need toguess an average bid of said other participants.
 16. The shopping gamesystem of claim 9, wherein said element of a game is the game outcome.17. The shopping game system of claim 16, wherein said sale elements andsaid events affect the game outcome by having the highest bidders in around in a multi-round auction eligible for a larger prize if saidhighest bidders win in an accompanied game.
 18. In a computer device, anonline transaction system having at least one seller and at least onebuyer, said transaction system comprising: a) an auction moduleconfigured to list at least one item for sale by a seller and to receiveat least one bid submitted by a buyer for the item for sale, saidauction module including auction elements and auction events, saidauction module further configured to close the item for sale upon apredetermined event defined by the seller; b) a game module comprisingat least one game operatively coupled for communication with saidauction module, said game including game elements, said game associatedwith the item for sale by the seller, said game further configured forplay by the buyer submitting the bid for the item for sale, said gamefurther configured to produce a game outcome according to play activityperformed by the buyer, and said game outcome affecting the terms of thesale for the item.
 19. The online transaction system of claim 18,wherein said game comprises a trivia game, said trivia game configuredto present to said buyer a trivia question and a plurality of answerchoices, one of which is the correct answer, said trivia game furtherconfigured to receive from said buyer an answer selection and generate agame result, said game result affecting the terms of the sale for theitem.
 20. The online transaction system of claim 18, wherein said gameresult is a price rebate for the item for sale.
 21. The onlinetransaction system of claim 18, wherein, said game elements are affectedby said auction elements and by said auction events.
 22. The onlinetransaction system of claim 18, wherein said auction elements areaffected by said game elements.
 23. The online transaction system ofclaim 18, wherein said auction events are affected by said gameelements.
 24. The online transaction system of claim 18, wherein saidauction elements and said auction events are affected by said gameelements.
 25. The online transaction system of claim 21, wherein saidauction elements and said auction events are selected from the groupconsisting of auction participants, bidding, information revelation andauction clearing.
 26. The online transaction system of claim 21, whereinsaid game elements are selected from the group consisting of gameparticipants, game moves, information revelation, and game outcome.